Rohan strode from his bedroom, fighting the urge to strip off his clothes and climb into bed with the stranger. At least the man’s presence took one worry off his shoulders—when to tell Ambar about his sexual preference for males. If she hadn’t guessed after the display in the car, she’d learn quickly enough.
He found the store empty when he stepped behind the counter. Outside Mrs. Rogers’ ten-year-old twins tugged their bicycles from the special rack Rohan had installed for customer use. “What’s up?” He frowned when she switched on the radio, and he reached to turn it off. Another of his parents’ ingrained rules. No music in the store during opening hours.
“Don’t. I want to hear the news. Scott and Tom Rogers just informed me a tiger escaped from the zoo. Their mother rang their cell phone and told them to come straight home.”
“Hell, do you think we have the tiger upstairs in our flat?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Ambar snapped. “That’s why I want to listen to the news.”
Ambar fiddled with the radio dial and the serious tones of a newsreader filled the store. “The tiger escaped over three hours ago and has not been sighted since. If you arrive home and find a tiger in your backyard, stay in your car and call the police.”
Ambar switched the radio back off when the strains of a pop song started. “What do you think?”
“He can’t remember his name. He doesn’t know where he came from or what happened.”
“Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
Rohan shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is he looks confused whenever he can’t answer my questions. You’re a good judge of character. See what you think when you talk to him. One thing I do know is that he’s been around the zoo. His clothes smell of the place. I missed it when we were in the hospital. But it could be a coincidence.”
They stared at each other for a long moment.
“You think?”
“No, not really,” Rohan said. “I think we have the tiger upstairs in my bedroom.”
“Your bedroom?”
Shoot. “Yeah.”
“I think that besides packing the last of our gear tonight we need to have a chat,” Ambar said.
Rohan sighed and tried to avert his sister’s thoughts. “Hell, I just remembered. I haven’t contacted the marriage broker to cancel your listing.”
Ambar scowled. “I’m perfectly capable of choosing my own partner. I don’t know what Mum and Dad were thinking signing me up. And it’s archaic that they’ll only take cancellations from a male. Do not forget to ring India and cancel, Rohan.” She turned away when the bell above the door tinkled to announce the arrival of a customer before whispering quickly, “You do that tonight, and afterward we’ll discuss your love life.” An impish grin filled her face. “That should be all kinds of interesting.”
Chapter Two
At six they closed the shop. It was earlier than usual, but since they had two days before the new owners took over, he and Ambar had decided to close early to organize the last of their packing before the move to Middlemarch.
Ambar started doing the cash up while Rohan went to check on their guest. He found him sound asleep, his clothes tossed over the end of the bed. He lay on his back, the covers draped low on his waist, his easily discernable ribs highlighting his need of a few good meals. At least they could fix that. The man stirred, rolling to his side, and Rohan saw several old scars on his back. Rohan frowned, not liking where his mind went on seeing those scars. Had someone beat him? The man shifted onto his back again. His breathing sounded normal and even, so Rohan ripped his gaze off the enticing sight and forced himself to leave the room and their guest sleeping.
Back downstairs, he restocked the laundry powder and cleaning material aisles, his mind on their guest and Middlemarch. What the hell were they going to do?
Ambar grabbed the money to take to the safe, pausing at his side. “What are we going to do, Rohan?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. The obvious solution would be to take him with us to Middlemarch.”
“But what if someone follows us? Or we take him to Middlemarch and he turns into a problem. We don’t know him, but we’d be responsible.”
Rohan pictured the male asleep in his bed and knew Ambar was right to preach caution despite his gut instinct and his yearning to keep the man with them. There was something about him that called to Rohan. He wanted to know him better. He wanted to care for him. A snort escaped. If that didn’t beat all. A big strong tiger shifter like him turning soft. Nah, wouldn’t happen. It was frustration, that’s all.
“Rohan?”
“Sorry, just pondering our alternatives. We could leave him here, find somewhere safe for him to stay.” He moved on to the canned-vegetable section.
“But what if he gets sick again?”
“Or I could contact Saber Mitchell in Middlemarch and tell him what’s happened. He’s on the feline council and might give us advice.”
“Yeah, that might work. There’s a police car pulling up outside the store.” Panic shaded his sister’s words.
“Don’t panic. It might be nothing. Leave the talking to me.”
“I really like it when you pull male rank and treat me like a defenseless woman,” Ambar snapped sarcastically. “Our mother and father might have run their marriage like that, but don’t think you can treat me the same way.”
“I’m cancelling the arranged marriage contract, aren’t I? They mightn’t even want to talk to us,” Rohan said. “Shush!”
One of the cops tapped on the door and gestured he wanted to talk to them. Rohan placed the can of baked beans he held in his hands on the shelf and stood to answer the summons.
“You’re shut earlier than usual,” the cop said.
Rohan recognized him as a local who often dropped in to grab milk or the paper. “The new owners take over in a couple of days.” He pointed to the sign in the window explaining the change in ownership and the reduced hours.
“Jeez, I hate moving,” the cop said. “Rather you than me. We’re doing a door-to-door asking about the tiger and making sure everyone knows what to do if they see it.”
“I heard about the tiger escape on the news,” Ambar said, sashaying over to them.
Rohan hid his grin when the cop’s eyes went directly to her breasts and lingered. “I thought they would have captured it by now,” he said.
“That’s the weird thing. No one’s seen it. The tiger attacked the vet doing tests on it and escaped from the surgery.”
“Is the vet okay?” Rohan asked, exchanging a worried look with Ambar.
“So they say,” the cop said. “If you see the tiger, ring the police station.”
Ambar nodded. “We’ll do that. Not many places for a tiger to hide around here, apart from around the zoo. I presume the cops have searched the Western Springs reserve?”
“Yeah. We’ve had a few possible sightings but nothing has panned out. Not to worry. No doubt we’ll catch him soon.” The cop waved and left. Rohan locked the door after him.
“Huh!” Ambar said. “If they’ve had sightings they’re taking a long time to capture the tiger. I bet it’s fevered imagination from excitable locals.”
“We could always ring up and give them an anonymous tip,” Rohan said. “Misdirect them.”
“But we’re not even sure our mystery man is the escaped tiger.”
“His clothes smell of zoo. And it would explain why no one has sighted the tiger since his escape and why our mystery man was so out of it. I bet they’d pumped him full of drugs.”
“Makes sense,” Ambar said. “I think you’re right. We should ring Saber Mitchell. We both liked him when we did the video conference to apply to move to Middlemarch. Besides, he told us to contact him if we had any questions.”
They finished their work downstairs and went up to the flat together.
Ambar paused at the top of the stairs. “Do you want me to pour you a drink while you check on our guest?”
Since their parents’ death they’d started a new tradition—a drink before dinner where they discussed anything and everything. Their parents hadn’t approved of alcohol either, and the ritual made them feel like rebellious teens.
Rohan joined Ambar in the small lounge. The room appeared stark and plain with only a single three-seater couch left. A stack of boxes piled against one wall, ready for collection by the removal company.
“He’s still asleep. I’ve been thinking about Saber Mitchell. Maybe we shouldn’t do anything and just take him with us.”
“Because you have the hots for him.” Ambar took a sip of her wine. “Are you gay?”
Rohan almost choked on his beer. Ambar didn’t believe in tiptoeing around anything. He bit back a smile, knowing he was lucky she didn’t sound judgmental. Her voice held curiosity but none of the distaste he’d feared. “Why would you think that?”
“You didn’t run away in horror when the stranger said he wanted to fuck you. And I’m not blind. I know an erection when I see one.”
“Ambar! Hell.” There were limits to their closeness. They’d never talked about sex in such detail before. Fiery heat seeped into his cheeks, and he couldn’t look his sister in the eye.
“I know you dated women but I never saw you kiss any of your dates,” Ambar said.
“Were you spying on me?” He didn’t have to pretend exasperation. A man should have some privacy.
“At least you were allowed to date,” his sister reminded him, and just like that his irritation dispersed. He’d had way more freedom than Ambar and he knew it. He checked his watch and mentally calculated the time in India. Not right yet. He’d have to make the phone call to cancel the marriage broker arrangement later.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
After their parents had died, they’d made a pact to be there for each other and to tell the truth. It was time he lived up to their deal.
“Yeah, I’m gay. That’s part of why I wanted to go to Middlemarch. I know there are a few same-sex relationships down there. From what Saber told me there’s a ménage a trois as well.
“I must have missed that part of the discussion.” Ambar cocked her head, making her look like an inquisitive bird. “Why did he tell you that? It might put some shifters off moving to Middlemarch.”
“You were too busy checking out the other Mitchell males to listen,” Rohan said dryly. “I think he wanted to make a point about tolerance and different feline shifter species living together.”
Ambar cocked her head to the other side, a mischievous smile twitching her lips. “You must admit the Mitchell males are babes. A pity most of them are mated.” She paused to take a breath, her eyes shining with the memory of the Mitchells. “A threesome? Hmmm, how does that work? I understand the mechanics of two males together but in a threesome… What goes where?”
Rohan spluttered, set his bottle of beer aside and laughed out loud. “The woman in the threesome relationship is a lion. Maybe you should ask her because she’s the…um…expert. How…what do you think? About me?”
Ambar reached across the gap between them and covered his hand with hers. “You’re my brother and I love you. All I want is for you to be happy. I don’t care who you decide to love or settle with as a partner as long as they treat you right.”
Rohan’s throat tightened and the words he wanted to say lodged behind the obstruction. He swallowed and managed to whisper, “Thanks.”
“No problem. So back to the stranger. We take him with us and hope he doesn’t cause any trouble? And don’t bother checking with Saber Mitchell?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Ambar nodded. “And the pair of you can see if you’re compatible meanwhile.”
“Funny, I never thought of that angle.” Rohan smirked, unable to hide his fascination in the other man any longer.
“Just remember I’m an impressionable virgin,” Ambar said. “Don’t shock me too much, okay?”
“Deal.”
They both laughed and finished their drinks before preparing dinner together.
Later that night, Rohan checked on the stranger and found him still asleep. Inside his room, he hesitated before retreating. Despite his yearning, he’d grab a couple of blankets and sleep in their parents’ old room. Time enough for getting to know the other shifter when he was on the road to recovery. He checked his watch and went to the phone to cancel Ambar’s contract with the marriage broker. Ten minutes later he hung up, glad to have the chore completed.
—
Rohan woke abruptly, uncertain of what had yanked him from sleep. Then he became aware of his hard-on, the hand stroking his cock, the warm mouth sucking on the tip. He made a choked sound, his superior eyesight making out the stranger bent over his groin.
The stranger lifted his head and grinned. “Don’t you like me doing that?”
“Hell yeah,” Rohan blurted. “But you’re not well. You should be in bed.”
“I am in bed. I woke up a while ago and couldn’t go back to sleep. I came to find you.” He dipped his head and licked across the crown of Rohan’s cock.
An embarrassing whimper escaped Rohan and the stranger chuckled.
“Good, huh?”
More than good. He hadn’t had a chance to have sex with another male for too long to remember. With his parents throwing women at him and the subsequent upheaval after their death, his sex life had come last to other more important things. “Yeah.” There was nothing like the closeness and intimacy of being with a like-minded male.
“Has it been a while for you?”
Rohan laughed. “Obvious, huh?”
“You’re trembling and you’re really close,” the stranger said.
“You don’t have to do this,” Rohan said.
“I want to.” He glanced up at Rohan and winked. “I’m hoping you’ll return the favor because I’m horny as hell.”
“You’re gay?”
“Don’t like labels.”
“How do you know?” Rohan retorted. “You don’t even know your name.”
“Kiran,” the stranger said with triumph.
“Your memory is back?”
Kiran frowned. “No,” he said finally. “All I know is my name. I can’t remember a thing, other than hitting the man at the zoo. The ambulance and the hospital.” He froze, horror skittering across his face. “They took blood at the hospital. I tried to stop them but I kept drifting off. My head felt stuffed with cotton wool when I first woke up. Feels better after a sleep.”
“Don’t worry. No one knows you’re here.”
Kiran relaxed a fraction. “My memory should come back. Right?”
Rohan hoped so. He could only imagine how frustrating it must feel not knowing anything about the past. “You have an accent. It sounds like you’re from India, but your skin is lighter than mine. I’d say you have at least one English parent.”
“I have an accent?”
“Yeah. That’s good. It means you’re a visitor. I wonder if you’re staying at a hotel, although that wouldn’t explain what you were doing at the zoo or how you came to be pumped full of drugs.”
“No talk. Rather get back to what I was doing.” He took Rohan’s cock into his mouth and laved and sucked with real expertise, his eyes glinting with mischief as he looked up at Rohan.
“Shit, you’ve done this before.”
Kiran lifted his head briefly. “I think so.” He took Rohan deeper, letting the flat of his tongue stroke along the delicate underside.
Rohan bucked his hips upward, driving his cock deeper into Kiran’s throat. He shuddered, feeling the pleasure building in his balls. They were so hard he thought they might implode. Damn, Kiran did this well. It was much better than jerking off in the shower. Much better.
Kiran increased his suction, using greedy noises that made Rohan glance at the bedroom door. Shut. Rohan relaxed to enjoy the sensations racing through his body, the pounding of his heart, the pressur
e in his balls and the warmth of Kiran’s mouth working his dick.
“Damn, that feels good,” he said in a low voice, aware his sister was only a wall away.
Kiran used his hands on Rohan’s lower shaft and ran a finger down his perineum, rubbing insistently across Rohan’s puckered entrance. The gentle sawing motion, combined with Kiran’s mouth, shoved Rohan into climax. Jets of semen blasted from his cock for long blissful moments, the tension leaching from his body.
With a final swipe of his tongue, Kiran lifted his head to grin at Rohan. “Great stress release, huh?”
“Yeah. Come up here.”
When Kiran moved up the bed, Rohan embraced him, feeling the faint raised edges of the scars on his back. A wiry and naked body slid next to his. “You don’t have any clothes on.”
Kiran kissed his jaw. “Fortunate, isn’t it?”
They exchanged a glance, the lack of light no barrier for the eyesight of tiger shifters.
Rohan grinned. “Convenient, but not so good if you’d gone to my sister’s room by mistake.”
“No problem there. I followed your scent.” Of one accord, they kissed, taking it slow and easy. A gentle meeting of lips and a thrust of tongue. They kissed for a long time, building the pleasure between them, learning what each of them enjoyed.
When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard. Rohan kissed across Kiran’s jaw, the brush of stubble reminding him he kissed another male. He took playful nibbles, working his way down Kiran’s neck. He reached the spot where feline shifters traditionally marked their mates, nipped and froze when Kiran groaned. His entire body shuddered, and an electric shock zapped down Rohan’s spine, coming to rest in his balls.
Rohan jerked his mouth away in shock, a harsh breath ripping down his throat. “Sorry.” His hand trembled. He wanted to say more but his mind refused to produce the words. It couldn’t be. They couldn’t be mates. His parents had informed him and Ambar that true mates were a myth. Respect and marriage for mutual benefit worked better than allowing the heart to rule. Emotions should never enter a marriage. Of course, if the Middlemarch felines mated, there was no reason why tigers shouldn’t have the ability to mate.
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